Rebecca O'Sullivan, Bernie Upton and Christine Seibuhr were all smiles after a big win on the Cup last year at the annual Toowoomba Hospice Melbourne Cup Luncheon at Cafe Valetta.
In a world first, the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and City University of Seattle have collaborated to develop a bachelors level accounting degree designed around the United Nations Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
USQ's Professor Allan Layton unveils redesigned Bachelor of Accounting and Sustainable Business (BASB) program.
The GRI is an international standard for business to report against a range of key indicator protocols under the categories of economic, strategy and profile, product responsibility, society, labour practices and decent work, human rights and the environment. By co-accrediting two new courses developed by CityU of Seattle, to be delivered in the existing USQ Bachelor of Accounting and Sustainable Business (BASB), the program has become the first to comprehensively embed the principles of the GRI within the curriculum. USQ BASB Program Coordinator Dr Geoff Slaughter said while many programs dealing with sustainable business cover the general principles of the GRI, USQ was the first to use the GRI indicator protocols as a basis for curriculum development.
This will give our students a great advantage, as they will have a clear understanding of what the GRI protocols entail and how to report against them,†Dr Slaughter said. The BASB program is accredited by the Australian Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA) Association and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia (ICAA). It is designed to produce graduate accountants equipped for a world where sustainable business, and all its associated reporting requirements, is not only a reality but a priority. To achieve this, unlike normal accounting degrees, there are courses in environmental science, sustainable business, sustainable accounting and finance. The program now also includes two newly co-accredited CityU courses of Corporate Social Responsibility and Fair Labour Practices.â€
Associate Dean of the CityU School of Management, Tom Cary said the GRI principles are the future of responsible businesses. We are preparing students to have a thorough, detailed knowledge of its requirements. The partnership between USQ and CityU brings a unique and global perspective on sustainable business for the students.â€
Dean of USQ Faculty of Business, Professor Allan Layton, said the relationship USQ has with CityU has the added benefit of including a number of co-accredited courses allowing graduating students of the USQ BASB to also qualify for the award of CityU Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Sustainability.
Students thereby receive two degrees – one from Australia and one from the US – for their four years of study of the USQ BASB, a really terrific outcome for students,†Professor Layton said.
Director of USQ Springfield Campus, Doug Fraser, said the redesign of the program more clearly defined what sustainable business education was about.
About the University of Southern Queensland
The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has forged a reputation as one of Australia’s leading providers of on-campus and distance education programs in Australia. With more than 75 per cent of students studying via distance or online, USQ is at the cutting edge of flexible delivery of resources and technology. From Arts, Business and Education to Sciences, Engineering and Surveying, the University continues to develop programs and courses that reflect the changing needs of society. USQ has three campuses located in Toowoomba, Springfield and on the Fraser Coast and welcomes international students from more than 100 countries each year.
About City University of Seattle
Founded in 1973 in Seattle, Washington, City University of Seattle is a private, not-for-profit university that serves more than 8,000 students worldwide each year, with more than 45,000 alumni worldwide. City University of Seattle’s mission is to change lives for good by offering high quality and relevant in-class and online education options to any person in the world with a desire to learn. The university is comprised of the School of Management, the Gordon Albright School of Education, and the Division of Arts and Sciences. Headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, City University of Seattle offers classes at locations throughout Washington, Canada, Mexico, Slovakia, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, and China as well as through its collaborative arrangement with USQ in Australia. www.cityu.edu
With Bush Verse becoming more and more popular, there were visitors who travelled many kilometres to attend the Poets Breakfast held at the Highfields Pioneer Village recently. The Breakfast is part of the annual Crows Nest Community Festival. Guest poet Janine Haig from Eulo/Chinchilla area recited various poems including some from her books “I Hope Yer Sheep Get Flyblown” and “Always Wear Clean Knickers.”
Janine Haig
Janine won the Bronze Swagman competition in 2003 with her poem “Not Gone” which she performed at the breakfast. She has recited poetry with ‘Cowboy Poets’, won various overseas trips and recited in U S A in Denver, Colorado and Elko, Nevada.
Georgia Steele
Fairholme College Year 10 student Georgia Steele (15) from Bowenville also recited several of Janine’s poems, and well known poet Ron Selby and camp oven cook and poet Ned Winter recited poetry with their usual humour.
Winners of the poetry competition sponsored by Heritage Crows Nest & Highfields Community Branches were:-
L to R: Sam Greer, Val Eldridge, poet Ron Selby and Alex Duff
Senior Poet:- Sam Greer,
Junior Poet – Alex Duff
and
People’s Choice Award –
Val Eldridge.
L to R; Jeff Close, Janine Haig, Georgia Steele and Highfields Pioneer Village Inc. president Ian Cockburn.
The recipients of funds raised at this year’s breakfast are the Highfields Scouts/Guides and the Highfields Pioneer Village.
Heritage Crows Nest & Highfields Community Branches is a joint venture between Progressive Community Crows Nest Ltd (PCCN) and Heritage Building Society. Under the Heritage community banking model, profits are distributed to community organisations, charities and special community events. 50% of branch profits are put back into the local community.
The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation & the Hear & Say Centre will be the beneficiaries from a Melbourne Cup luncheon hosted by members of the Toowoomba West Lions Club & Quota International Toowoomba on Tuesday 2nd November 2010 at Angelo’s House in Herries Street, Toowoomba.
A sumptuous luncheon that will feature champagne and savouries on arrival at 11.00am, a main course and desert plus coffee & tea with handmade chocolates, all provided for guests at just $55 ticket that also includes a ticket in the major multi-draw raffle and the chance to win the Angelo’s House $100 dinner voucher lucky door prize.
Fashions modeled by the ladies of QUOTA from Bramptons Toowoomba at the last year's Melbourne Cup celebrations...
Coomera Houseboat Holidays on the Gold Coast have donated a houseboat holiday for the charity auction plus there will be accommodation packages at Coolum Caprice on the Sunshine Coast & Dayboro Cottages to be won & lots more prizes in the multi draw raffle. The usual Melbourne Cup sweeps will be conducted plus there will be a fashion parade from Bramptons and prizes for the Best Dressed.
For table bookings and more information contact Angelo’s House on 4659 9200.
In this edition Darren runs through the Waste Management Centre hours, the Australia Day nominations, the Damian Cox bursary, doing council business online, roadworks, etc.
The township of Crow’s Nest, just north of Toowoomba, is set to host the annual worm races this Saturday. Featuring the Perseverance Cup and run over an 18 inch course, the racing worms are in training and on a special diet to produce the fastest times – whatever the weather. Tourist and Progress Secretary Marg Barnes said that the track may be wet on the day but the worms won’t mind. Early favourite is Crafty Crow by Happy Hand out of The Nest Timeâ€, Mrs Barnes said, but Pipe Dream by Tunnel Runner out of Wivenhoe also has some solid backingâ€.
The worm races are just part of the fun day festival being held at Crow’s Nest this Saturday. There will be a fun run, whip cracking, hay bale stacking, the Australian Crow Calling Championships as well as two free concerts by Brendon Walmsley and plenty of entertainment. Food and drinks and stalls will also be around the park. The grand procession heads out at noon, led by the Toowoomba Caledonian Pipe Band, and the Heritage fireworks go off with a bang at 8pm.
The ten day festival finishes with the Poets Breakfast at Highfields Pioneer Village on the Sunday 24th.
A dynamic group of agency stakeholders gathered in the Western Downs region with the aim of supporting and connecting people and organisations that have an interest and passion for maintaining and/or improving the well being of the people in the Western Downs region.
The Western Downs Communities Network (WDCN) lead network partners include RHealth, Western Downs Regional Council, Department of Communities, Spiritus and Queensland Health.
The Network established in 2009 through funding provided by the Toowoomba & Darling Downs Partnership Council (TaDDPC). This work was undertaken within the existing capacity of partner agencies and local community members.
The Network welcomed Natalie Drake-Brockman who commenced as the part time Western Downs Communities Network Coordinator in August 2010. The Coordinator role was also made possible through the acquisition of further funding from TaDDPC.
The Network believes a multi-strategic approach is required to reduce the incidence of chronic disease. It has been identified through good evidence that a range of interventions are more effective in preventing chronic disease and in promoting health and wellbeing.
The most effective health promotion strategies are those that address the individual, social and environmental determinants of health. This approach incorporates many sections of the community, for example, transport, urban planning, environment, sport and recreation, education, health and welfare.
From l to r: Trish Leddington-Hill (RHealth), Danny Nearhos (Queensland Government - Department of Communities (Sport & Recreation)), Natalie Drake-Brockman (Network Coordinator) & Carollee Murphy (Western Downs Regional Council) Note: not all Network reference group representatives pictured.
The Network has been involved with the following activities to date:
Community Forum
In March 2010, 60 agencies/community members provided input and identified a number of opportunities for action to promote health and wellbeing in the Region. There are now over 150 network members across the whole region on the communications database.
WDCN Meetings
Ongoing coordination of regular regional Network meetings (inviting all 150 network members) to identify local community needs including sector capacity building, infrastructure and services. The Network also aims to have representation at local Interagency meetings.
Community Heart Beat Fund
$25,000 was made available as a part of the TaDDPC funding package. This allowed the Network to develop a funding program for eligible capacity building projects that promote healthy living, well being and community cohesion and could be delivered to their respective communities before 31 May 2011. Submissions closed on Thursday 30 September 2010.
Capacity Building Training
Planning is underway to introduce training for all Not For Profit (NFP) organisations to arm their staff with the tools to successfully attract public and private sector funding and manage community projects.
Community members are encouraged to email Natalie Drake-Brockman, Western Downs Communities Coordinator at westerndownscn@gmail.com if they would like to communicate a need in their locality
Natalie Drake-Brockman
Western Downs Communities Network (WDCN) Coordinator
The Toowoomba Hospice is a six bed facility which offers respite and palliative care for the terminally ill. As part of our ongoing fundraising efforts, the Toowoomba Hospice is holding its ‘‘Trash Ya Hair for Hospice Care!’ this month. ‘Trash Ya Hair for Hospice Care!’ week is aimed at raising the awareness and profile of the Toowoomba Hospice in our local community.
Each participating organisation selects a day during the ‘Trash Ya Hair for Hospice Care!’ month in which participants are encouraged to make a donation to the Hospice by colouring, moussing, gelling or shaving their hair. All monies raised on the day are donated to the Toowoomba Hospice with Prizes for Most money raised by:
* An individual
* A business
* A club or community group*
* A school*
*To make it fair monies raised will be divided by total participants, ensuring a fair chance for all.
Ambrosiussen Accountants’ staff getting trashed for the Toowoomba Hospice
Peter AmbrosiussenKate HarleyBack - Susie Campbell, Craig Dawson, Paula Hansen, Michael Grogan, Peter Ambrosiussen, Front - Sam Wright, Cheryl Lesler, Kate Harley and Toni Skillington.
The Hospice is a community organisation which relies heavily on Toowoomba and the surrounding districts for support.
For further information please contact Mark Munro, Promotions & Fundraising Manager on 07 4659 8500 or email admin.toowoombahospice@bigpond.com
